If you have Indian blood in your tree....you are part Indian. The amt. will be unknown until you find the ancestor that first married into Indian blood. To be a 'legal member' of a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe (Cherokee Nation of Okla., Eastern Band of Cherokee for example) you have to have a direct ancestor on the Dawes Roll or the Revised Baker Roll of 1924. Now...The CNO goes by the direct link on the Dawes Roll. The Eastern Band of Cherokee goes off of the Baker Roll 1924. BUT!!! To be a registered card carrying member of the Eastern Band you would of had to 1) had ancestor's on that Roll, 2) be registered at birth or 3) registered by your 18th Birthday. Otherwise you will not be a "registered Tribal member". Because once they opened their casino they closed their registration to prevent just "anybody" from being a member & getting a Casino check. I don't know if you can get "recognized" or "registered" w/o receiving benefits. But I'm sure they'd have something on their web site. I'm not sure about the Eastern Band, but with the CNO you can get a CDIB card....which is Certificate Degree of Indian Blood (or something like that...not sure what the C...stands for..been too long) and then this enables you to "benefits" I believe there's also a Tribal Card....but I'm not sure if that's just to acknowledge your Blood.(I have to dig thru my papers to get it all straight) ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> > Alli, please explain the difference between being legally a member of the > tribe, and thus, legally an Indian, and registering with the tribe. I am > confused.Thanks, Leona